"Silaya, have you dreamed of Lesser Lord Kusanali recently?" Lumine and Paimon remembered Silaya's promise to ask on their behalf.
Silaya shook her head. Perhaps Lesser Lord Kusanali had been busy with other matters, or perhaps Silaya's current location in Vanarana, far from the Sanctuary of Surasthana, made it difficult for the Lesser Lord to reach her in dreams.
In any case, since arriving in Vanarana, Silaya hadn't dreamed of her at all.
"I see..."
Since Silaya had no progress to report, they decided to head to Sumeru City and inquire there.
After bidding farewell to Silaya, Lumine and Paimon set off for Sumeru City.
The journey from Vanarana to Sumeru City wasn't particularly long. Silaya had taken only about a day to travel there at a leisurely pace. Lumine and Paimon departed around noon and arrived in Sumeru City by dinnertime.
Arriving in a new city always excited Paimon.
"This is Sumeru City, Lumine! Quick, let's find a place to feast!"
Since it was already evening, there was no rush to find Lesser Lord Kusanali. Lumine agreed with Paimon's suggestion.
The delicious treats Yuna made were completely gone. Paimon had shown remarkable restraint, but even she couldn't resist finishing them all.
The two immediately agreed to find a place to eat and have a hearty meal.
Upon entering Sumeru City, Lumine and Paimon easily obtained the Akasha Terminal, a device almost everyone in Sumeru possessed.
After asking a few simple questions, they received the standard "Insufficient permissions" response. Lumine simply wore the terminal without paying much attention to it.
The next day, Lumine and Paimon began inquiring about how to meet the Dendro Archon.
They started by asking passersby, but when that proved fruitless, they went to the Adventurer's Guild for help. Katheryne provided some recommendations, which Lumine and Paimon then followed up on.
By the end of the day, they hadn't learned how to meet the Dendro Archon, but they had uncovered some other interesting information.
"Sigh, everyone's attitude is exactly as Mr. Asfand described. Not only are they completely uninterested in the Dendro Archon, but they also keep saying things like, 'The Akasha doesn't think I need to know.'"
"Ever since we entered Sumeru City, we've been tirelessly gathering information. But I can't shake the feeling that the news is getting increasingly grim."
"Could it be that not a single person in all of Sumeru City is interested in Lesser Lord Kusanali?" Paimon grumbled. "Back in Vanarana, her presence didn't feel this weak at all!"
Lumine found it strange too. Sumeru's current deity was the Dendro Archon, but even if she rarely showed herself, a national god shouldn't have faded into such obscurity.
Lumine couldn't help but think of Silaya. Was there some deeper meaning behind Lesser Lord Kusanali's frequent appearances in her dreams?
As the two pondered, a voice suddenly interjected.
"Oh? Are you interested in Lesser Lord Kusanali?"
Lumine and Paimon turned toward the speaker.
The woman was strikingly beautiful, dressed in elegant attire that exuded the air of a noble lady.
Thanks to the System's enhancements, Genshin Impact NPCs no longer shared the same generic face. Dunyarzad's appearance immediately caught the attention of players watching from beyond the screen.
Dunyarzad: "It sounds like you're foreigners who just arrived in Sumeru City and are asking about Lord Kusanali. Ah, I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Dunyarzad. I'm actually a devoted admirer of Lord Kusanali!"
Having finally found someone interested in Lord Kusanali, Lumine and Paimon eagerly asked how to meet the Dendro Archon.
Dunyarzad told them a story that greatly improved their spirits after a fruitless day. The three quickly became acquainted.
Afterward, Dunyarzad seemed to spot something and hurried away.
Lumine and Paimon discovered that the Eremites who suddenly appeared were searching for Dunyarzad. They helped her evade the danger and later even crossed paths with Dehya...
-
Sumeru, Vanarana.
Chu Xi, carrying her backpack alone, found herself lost in the same place where Lumine and Paimon had gotten lost earlier.
She had been traveling from Liyue Harbor for days, covered in dust and having encountered numerous monsters along the way. Her safe arrival here was largely thanks to the Geo Vision she carried.
It's worth repeating: the weight of stone brings peace of mind!
Though Chu Xi hadn't suffered any serious injuries, she had run out of food several days ago.
Chu Xi's constitution was naturally weak. If she hadn't learned about edible wild plants back home in Liyue, she likely would have developed hypoglycemia long ago.
However, having grown up entirely in Liyue, her knowledge of flora and fauna was limited to that region.
Now, on her first journey abroad, Chu Xi faced a crucial decision.
Should she eat the mushrooms before her, or not?
The more beautiful a mushroom, the more dangerous it usually was. But these mushrooms looked utterly unremarkable, clearly the edible kind.
Her stomach growling in protest, Chu Xi hesitated no longer. She skewered the mushrooms onto a wooden stick, built a small fire, and began roasting them.
Pure, naturally roasted mushrooms—absolutely zero additives.
The fragrant aroma of the golden-brown mushrooms filled the air, an irresistible temptation for the starving Chu Xi. Even without salt, she devoured them with gusto.
Why are all these little people dancing in front of me?
And why is the scenery rushing past?
Chu Xi's head swam, and she instantly lost consciousness.
As expected of a young person.
When Chu Xi collapsed, her posture was as if it had been deliberately arranged, like a Sleeping Beauty.
In the distance, Tighnari, patrolling the forest alone, noticed the smoke and hurried over to investigate.
Collei had been resting for several days due to illness, leaving Tighnari to handle the forest patrols alone.
Approaching Chu Xi's prone figure, Tighnari quickly rushed over to examine her.
"Phew, thankfully, it seems she just ate a poisonous mushroom."
Relieved, Tighnari prepared to carry Chu Xi back, but he suddenly felt awkward.
When he had carried Lumine before, Collei and Paimon had been there to help, and Paimon's constant chatter had made it seem less awkward.
Tighnari clicked his tongue. What am I even thinking?
He immediately grabbed Chu Xi's hand, flipped her onto his back, and sprinted toward their camp.
"Another one today? Did I pick up another stray?"
The Traveler had also collapsed nearby not long ago. Was this place really that easy to get lost in?